Chronicle of a Death Foretold

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Chronicle of a Death Foretold

The type of violence portrayed in Chronicle of a Death Foretold is more of an honor killing, in which two innocent young men feel pressured by society to become violent, instead of their own intentions. The standards and expectations of the society and their own mother who summoned them with the problem expected them to take care of the situation and regain their sister's honor. The kind of violence seen in Billy Budd differs in that it is a regulatory measure meant to keep order and obey the rules of a society and an institution. While both acts of violence are not the pure testosterone driven raging acts seen in modern day news broadcasts, they differ in that they also show a background of honest premeditation. Both were committed for very serious, purposeful reasons of which the murderers knew the full weight of their actions and that was exactly what they intended. In both novels, the murder committed took away a good person's life, while to many witnesses and accomplices there was a shadow of doubt as to the good intentions and reasoning behind these deeds.

The misguided intentions began in Marquez's novel witht he arrival and objectives of Bayardo San Roman. He thinks he deserves a "perfect" bride and has come to this small Caribbean town to find her. Based on looks he picks Angela Vicario, without even knowing her or spending time alone he wants to spend his life with her. This kind of egotism and obvious materialism demonstrates that Bayardo wants Angela based on her looks and "pure" reputation that there are "no better-reared daughters" than the Vicario ones (Marquez 31). She personally means nothing to him, and he wants her for all of the wrong reasons. He is able to...

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...to happen, regardless of a moralist’s sense of justice and human rights. Their job was to serve Britain in her Navy during the time of Napoleon, regardless of the personal infringements on the liberties of the crew. Those were minor in comparison to the safety of Britain and her King.

The sense of regret and shadow of doubt which lingers after each of these murders, Billy Budd’s execution and the murder of Santiago Nasar, indicates injustice of the system and special circumstances. If the Vicario brothers did not live in a time when all felt it was their “duty” to find Angela’s “seducer,” then they would not have been compelled to commit the act they did. If Billy Budd was not at sea during a time of serious mutinies and heightened rebellions worldwide, the same atmosphere would have allowed him more justice and time for a complete trial, perhaps on land.

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